Foundation Season 3 release date, cast, storyline, trailer release, and everything you need to know
Apple TV+ has renewed the critically acclaimed sci-fi series Foundation for a third season, based on the groundbreaking novels by Isaac Asimov. After an explosive second season that left fans reeling, anticipation is high for where this ambitious adaptation will go next. In this blog post, we’ll explore everything we know so far about Foundation Season 3, from potential release dates to storyline predictions and casting updates.
“Foundation has captured the imagination of viewers around the world with its riveting storylines, stunning visuals, and remarkable performances,” said Matt Cherniss, head of programming for Apple TV+. “We can’t wait for everyone to experience what is in store for characters old and new in season three.”
“I’m thrilled Apple has given us the opportunity to continue chronicling Asimov’s pioneering galactic saga,” said showrunner David S. Goyer. “This time, the stakes for Foundation and Empire are even higher as the Mule takes center stage, along with fan favorites Bayta, Toran, Ebling, and Magnifico Giganticus.”
Foundation Season 3 Release Date:
While Apple hasn’t announced an official release date yet, we can make some educated guesses based on past seasons. Season 1 premiered in September 2021, while the second season 2 arrived in July 2023 after lengthy pandemic-related delays.
Given the epic scale of the show’s production, a late 2024 or early 2025 release window seems most likely for Season 3. Goyer himself has stated that each season takes around two years to produce from start to finish due to the immense amount of visual effects and post-production work required.
The Hollywood strikes first delayed the start of filming in early 2023, and then again in February 2024 due to budgeting and logistical issues. Production finally got back underway in early March 2024 in the Czech Republic and Poland.
Even with this delay, if Goyer’s two-year timeline holds true, Foundation fans may be waiting until mid-to-late 2025 to see the third season. The long hiatuses are certainly frustrating for eager audiences, but they also speak to Apple’s commitment to delivering a premium, painstakingly crafted product.
Foundation Series Storyline Overview:
For the uninitiated, Foundation chronicles the epic saga of the Galactic Empire’s decline and the establishment of a new society designed to rebuild civilization from the ashes over the course of a thousand years.
Based on Asimov’s iconic book series, first published in the 1940s, the show follows mathematician Hari Seldon (Jared Harris), who develops the revolutionary theory of psychohistory, which can predict the future behavior of large populations. When Seldon’s calculations indicate the Empire’s imminent collapse, he and a loyal band of followers seek to create a compendium of human knowledge—the Foundation—as the spark to rekindle civilization.
Across the first two seasons, we’ve seen Seldon and his allies like Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobell) and Salvor Hardin (Leah Harvey) navigate numerous crises and existential threats to the Foundation, all while the dysfunctional leaders of the Empire grow increasingly desperate to maintain their iron grip on the galaxy.
Foundation Season 3 Expected Storyline:
While plot details are tightly under wraps, we can glean some hints of Foundation Season 3’s narrative direction from David Goyer’s comments about featuring “the Mule” as the primary antagonist. In Asimov’s novels, the Mule is a terrifying mental mutant with powerful mind-control abilities who emerges to conquer the galaxy and put the existence of the Foundation itself at risk.
The psychic Gaal and Hari entered cryosleep in Season 2, preparing for the Mule’s arrival over a century later. We also saw the Empire descend into civil war between the decadent Cleon clones, the renegade Brother Dawn, and his unborn child—a natural heir—which could upend the genetic dynasty.
The Mule’s introduction seems poised to trigger the “Third Seldon Crisis,” a pivotal turning point in Seldon’s calculations about the Foundation’s future. Other book elements, like the search for the mysterious Second Foundation, founded in secret at the same time as the original, could also come into play.
“As crazy as the end of Season 2 is, Season 3 is even crazier. You haven’t seen anything yet,” Goyer has teased ominously.
Foundation Series Cast:
- Jared Harris as Hari Seldon
- Lee Pace as Brother Day
- Lou Llobell as Gaal Dornick
- Laura Birn as Demerzel
- Terrence Mann as Brother Dusk
- Cassian Bilton as Brother Dawn
An exciting array of new series regulars, many straight out of Asimov’s novels, will join them:
- Alexander Siddig (Syriana) as Dr. Ebling Mis, a psychohistory expert
- Troy Kotsur (CODA) as Preem Palver, leader of a psychic planet
- Pilou Asbæk (Game of Thrones) as the dreaded Mule
- Cherry Jones (succession) as Foundation Ambassador Quent
- Synnøve Karlsen as Bayta Mallow
- Cody Fern as Toran Mallow
- Brandon P. Bell as Han Pritcher, servant of the Mule
- Tómas Lemarquis as Magnifico Giganticus
- Yoatha Wong-Loi-Sing as Song
- Leo Bill as Mayor Indbur
With such a stacked ensemble taking on iconic characters from the source material, Foundation’s third season is shaping up to be its most ambitious yet in scope and stakes.
Foundation Season 3 List of Episodes:
Unfortunately, Season 3’s episode titles and counts are still unknown. Seasons 1 and 2 each consisted of 10 episodes, so we can likely expect a similar episodic structure for the third season. As soon as official details emerge, we’ll update this section accordingly.
- Episode No. 1: “In Seldon’s Shadow”
- Episode No. 2: “A Glimpse of Darkness”
- Episode No. 3: “King and Commoner”
- Episode No. 4: “Where the Stars are Scattered Thinly”
- Episode No. 5: “The Sighted and the Seen”
- Episode No. 6: “Why the Gods Made Wine”
- Episode No. 7: “A Necessary Death”
- Episode No. 8: “The Last Empress”
- Episode No. 9: “Long Ago, Not Far Away”
- Episode No. 10: “Creation Myths”
Foundation Series Creators Team:
The Foundation’s creation is led by writer/producer David S. Goyer, who developed the series for television alongside Josh Friedman. Goyer’s impressive genre pedigree includes co-writing the Dark Knight trilogy and producing shows like Krypton and Constantine.
The series’ core creative team consists of executive producers Robyn Asimov (Isaac Asimov’s daughter), David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Bill Bost, Marcy Ross, Cameron Welsh, and Friedman. Directors such as Roxann Dawson, Jennifer Phang, and Alex Graves lead the crew behind the scenes.
Composer Bear McCreary has provided the haunting, atmospheric scores for Seasons 1 and 2 and is expected to return for Season 3’s musical accompaniment.
Where to Watch Foundation Season 3?
Foundation Season 3, a flagship original series, will stream exclusively on the Apple TV+ platform when it premieres. The first two seasons are available to stream now for subscribers.
Apple TV+ requires a $6.99/month subscription after a 7-day free trial. The service is available on Apple devices as well as many smart TVs, streaming boxes, gaming consoles, and mobile platforms.
Foundation Season 3 Trailer Release Date:
Apple has not yet released a trailer for Foundation Season 3. If history is any indication, we likely won’t see our first teaser footage until 4-6 months after the premiere date.
The first Season 2 teaser arrived in March 2023, about 4 months ahead of the season’s July debut. If we apply a similar timeframe, we could potentially see an initial Season 3 trailer by late 2024 or early 2025, assuming the new season sticks to the projected mid-2025 launch window.
Stay tuned, as we’ll be sure to analyze and dissect the first full trailer footage here once it arrives!
Foundation Season 3 Final Words:
While we may have to exercise some patience before witnessing the next chapter, all signs point to Foundation Season 3 being well worth the wait for sci-fi fans. David Goyer and his talented team have proven more than capable of bringing Asimov’s dense, philosophical space opera to vivid life on screen.
The narrative pieces are in place for an epic conflict between Hari Seldon’s Foundation and the implacable force of the Mule. Given the ongoing involvement of both the Empire and Second Foundation, Season 3 is likely to witness significant upheaval and drama.
Bolstered by a top-notch cast blending familiar favorites and exciting new additions, Foundation’s third season has a prime opportunity to cement the series as one of the great sci-fi epics in television history. The quest to steer humanity towards its brightest potential has only just begun.
